The University of Dayton has named Christopher Roederer dean of the University of Dayton School of Law. Roederer has served as the school's interim dean since January 2025.
"Chris is a highly collaborative and respected leader committed to our Catholic and Marianist mission. His ability to balance financial sustainability with a vision for academic innovation already has strengthened the School of Law," said Darlene Weaver, University of Dayton provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. "I am confident, under his leadership, the School of Law will continue to enhance its national reputation."
Roederer joined the School of Law as a professor teaching torts, constitutional law, criminal procedure, remedies, statutory interpretation, and international and comparative law in 2018. He also has served as the School of Law's associate dean of academic affairs from July 2023 to January 2025.
Before coming to the School of Law, Roederer taught at the Florida Coastal School of Law, the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, Goroka University in Papua New Guinea and the Anglo-American College in Prague.
In all, he brings a 25-year track record of classroom teaching and scholarly research plus experience in administration, curricular development and international initiatives.
“I am honored to serve as the dean and grateful my predecessors developed such a strong foundation for our law school," Roederer said. "We are living in difficult and challenging times, but it is hard to imagine anything better than being part of a community dedicated to graduating lawyers to meet those challenges.
"Record numbers of students have applied to the University of Dayton School of Law during the past two years. People are turning to law school because they want to be part of the solution rather than just spectators or casualties of the world's problems. UD’s mission always has been to educate the whole person, to prepare students to be lifelong learners, and to equip them with the tools and judgment to distinguish themselves in their careers and make a difference in the world.”
Roederer earned his law degree from the New York University School of Law, a master’s degree from the University of Texas and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas.
For interviews, contact Shawn Robinson, associate director of news and communications, at srobinson@udayton.edu, 937-229-3391 or 937-545-5421.